Hydration of olefines



'it like-"if, n

ff-vAeeerdingwthe'irivenuonr hevegfeunu hat ilehryr Dreyfus,I London, Enlgiland tion August 22, 1932, Sri'l:l reatritain September, 1`1', l

ventionreieteet ltri manufacture of aliphatic hydoxycompounds from 'iolenesg-fahd `especiall'yt`c the; manufacture 'or aliphaticflalcohols fro'nifoleiines such as ethylene, ropyleri an the aliphatic hydroxy compounds nflaxr ladvantagl y beprdduced by-'tlie'hyd'ration fof oleiines in th'i-pre'sence of basic substances, 4and especially 10`A iifthe presencefof allial' etalfhydoxidesln particular aliphatic alch ay'be-preparedfby `une ny'dretinf f jethyiere, p ropylene ierf ether olnes'iin the'fpresence Vof sodiuml `potassium hir'd'roiiidefvv f A: `lin the manufacture-of aliphatic alcoholsby the process of 'the l*invention` it `is preferable to av' the us'eo'f hightemperatres', for instance, fternperatiireselfeve abeumod-orfx'o" "C. since at such-temperatures the y'ieid` of aliphatic-meeheli ri-meterse; aebenaif @theater @sagradas 25? played Such as. fr, instarlqjthefprsslirifythe phric," f"`for" examplefup to 50 atmospheres' y or n fr fractional condensation of thewapours, or by conhigher. l i. i i

The yields and nature ofthe ractionproducts are further dependent on the L proportions in which the reactants are present. Thus, for example, if the olene is employed alone or With onlysmall amounts of water, aliphatic alcohols in the form of alkali metal or other alcoholates may be obtained. Preferably, however, sufficient Water is present in the reactant mixture to en` sure that the alcohol is formed entirely in thefree state. This is especially advantageous in that it permits the operation of the process in a con-k tinuousmanner, since the basic substance em- `ployedremainsas such in the reaction vessel and is not consumed orbound by combination to give a metallic alcoholate.

` With'fsteam-imay'be cirl ulate tion; Atmospheric pressres orpressur'es higher current tothe 'alkali sortieliendiunder pressure. Onv releasing the presswurewthe alcohol contained the alkali solutioninay be removed andthe solution returned underpressurefto the' reaction Zonen. i," 1,' i in'anothrfprmf thamventinthejwtrjra autres` ,to produce' free-'alcohol may beintrodced partially'or wholly with lthe. olene "for instance, a An."iiiture "of iolfiie" tionjor ior'inst ce'depostedupona inertcarq rirslich sample rwlmiiumce; the alcohol producdihayfbe ratedL froxngthe vapours leavingFthereaction one orfcollected as 'a liquid'lfrofir` the reaction" zonel ccordirigwto the plj f sure employed, f and "thej seid yapbursjfmy i' ir'dg, dertien vapour ispreferably added to the olene before recirculation.

Although the invention has been described mainly with reference to"l the use o f alkali metal hydroxides, it is not confined to these substances, but includes the use of other basic substances such as, fory example, calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. Furthermore, theseLsubstances maybe stances of the present invention may, if desired,

" inthe reaction `used in admixture with each other and/or with alkali metal hydroxides. Moreover, the basic sub'- be employed in conjunction with other substances, especiallywith elements or compounds favouring the production of alcohols from olenes and steam, such as for example thoria, metals such 'as platinum, gold, silver, copper, tungsten, manganese etc. or compounds of these metals.

If desired, the alkali hydroxides or other basic substance to be used, alone or in conjunction with other substances-imam be @employed *deposited upon, absorbed in or'otherwise in association with inert supports or carriers, such as wood charcoal, silica gel, asbestos, rpumice, etc.

The following examples illustratathe invention, and it is understood that the invention is in no wise limited thereto: f f

Exemplar@ j A mixture comprising` equal "rolumes'ot ethylene and steam is led into 50% potassium hydroxide about 20..atrnospheres;Y absorption, `is substantiallyomplete. The-alkali ,solution then removed fromI the freactionszonefand the. `pressure released;- thealeohol formed i distils. off, together with; some .awaten alkaliv Solution is.` then;v returned to 1 the. efacticnl zone,v ,and .the `process re.-

saca is,=..-f i

ILProce'ss whic "ompr's'es tlfie`"manuf`acture of aliphatic alcoholsby hydration of the corref spending olenes at elevatedftemperatures .in the presencef'otastrongl sie linorganic substance. 1f2. Process' whichcompris-vv the manufacture of"'ethylfait;,iihol'by.hydratfffethylene atelcvate'dl'temperature's n'the pr .srie oa'str'ongly basic inorganic;sr PrQQes'SJwhmh" rronylalcqhb by "atii vatedterperaturesi propylene at ele.-v nce` nof a strongly basic. inorganicsu st -.Presswhihvo Offaliphat... spndngfvlenes atetemrerature@ smeer-.100? and 300 C. in the presence stongly basic norsanisuhtaslee v ...PFQGESS '.Whi

he facture solution heated to 150 C. under a pressure of" of ethyl alcohol by hydration of ethylene at a temperature between 100 and 300 C. in the presence of a strongly .basic inorganic substance.

6. Process which comprises the manufacture of aliphatic alcohols by hydration of the corresponding olenes at elevated temperatures in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide.

7. Process which comprises the manufacture of ethylv alcohol nby -jhydration iof ethylene '.1 at .elevatedl temperatures in the-.presence oan alkali metal hydroxide.

" i 8. Process which comprises the manufacture of aliphatic alcohols by hydration of the corresponding olenes at elevated temperatures in the presi ence ofy an alkaline earth metal oxide.

9. Process which comprises the manufacture of 9 'r ethyl aicohgi-.byhydration of ethylene at e1evatea temperatures inthe presence of an alkaline earth metal oxide,

10. Process which comprises the manufacture of aliphatic alcohols by hydration gf .the correspending olenes. at velewrted.tempel-atm#es in the presence of angalkalineieartnmetalhydroxidef l1. Process whichcomprises; the manufacture of ethyl alcohol by hydration of ethylene atlelevatedtemperatures inithepresence. ot an; alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

y 12'.. Process which comprises/the. manufacture of ethyl ,alcohol .by hydration olil ethyleneat a temperature between 1001o and 30mg-in thepresence of an alkali metal hydroxide.

I3., Processwhich comprises the manufacture e; ethyl alcohol by hydration of ethyleneatatemf perature between 150 and 250 C. in the presence of anV alkali metal hydroidde.. n

14..l .Process whichl comprises the manufacture of ethyl alcohol by hydration of ethylene at-.elef vated temperatures and-under; a .pressure upto 5 0, atmospheres in thepresence of an alkalimetal. 1'1Y ;.11 ?Xi-V Y -15,..Process whiclfi:` comprises. the` manufacture ofethyl alcohol by hydrationofl` ethylene at eleual-ted temperatures and Yunder al pressureabove atmoSphQrici-n the presence fan. alkalimetal hydroxideand'thoriasl 16u Process. for the. manufacture of ethyl alec# hol. whichfcomprises bringing a mixture. of ethyl# enewith atleast its` ownyolume offwateryapor intocontact withfan4 alkali metal hydroxide at a temperature between 100 3.00".`;'CY under a pressure. higherthan atmospheric, 17. Process forjthe. manufacturef'of ethyl al.- cchol which .comprisesj'brngingfa n'aixturee of ethylene with at. leastfitsown Vc'rlum'e'v of.' water yapor into contact with an hydroxide and with .thora.. at Aa. temperature. betweenV 100,o and 30S-HC., under. Va pressure'. higher than at.,- mlospheric. iff" '2 I -if HnNRYDREyEUs.. 

